Boston WCC Competitor FAQs

Photo: Liz Chai

Are you competing in 2019? We’ve gathered answers to some frequently asked questions, and some handy resources to help your competition experience, and your trip to Boston!

Is there something you need that isn’t listed on the resource list? Have a question about public transportation? Want to know where to find the best baked beans in the city? Email [email protected], and we’ll look into it!

A: WBC Orientation is on Wednesday April 10th from 11:30 AM – 1:00PM, at the WBC stage. WBrC Orientation is on Thursday April 11th from 8:00 – 9:30 AM, at the WBRC stage. Attending the orientation meeting is mandatory: competitors who do not attend the orientation meeting may be disqualified.

A: To enter the United States of America, some of you might need a visa. To check if you need a visa, look for your national US Embassy here. You do not need a visa if your country is a member of the Visa Waiver Program (in this case, you only need to apply for the Electronic System for Travel Authorization, ESTA). You can check if your country is part of the Visa Waiver Program here.

NB: WCE does not have control over the visa issuing process and cannot guarantee a positive outcome, so please be sure to plan your visit early to avoid any issues.

A: WCE can provide an invitation letter for the competitor, their coach, and a translator, if they are using one. To request an invitation letter, you can email [email protected] with the full name, email, and passport scans for each person. Please remember that WCE do not have control over the visa issuing process and cannot guarantee a positive outcome—it is vital that you begin your preparations for a visa as soon as possible.

All other requests for invitation letters can be handled through the Expo website. Once you purchase a ticket and complete registration, an invitation letter will be emailed to you.

A: Competitors will be receiving a code via email, that they can use to register for a free ticket. If you also include a coach in competitor registration, they will also receive a registration code. Additional supporters and coaches will need to purchase tickets directly from Specialty Coffee Expo, here.

A: Backstage access is for the competitor, coach, and one helper/translator. Each team will be allowed a total of three people (including competitor) backstage. Competitors will be given vests that will give their team members backstage access, and they can rotate as they wish. Any teams found in violation of this may be subject to disqualification.

A: The Rules & Regulations specify that the same preparation space and tools available to all competitors, but in this case the committee has determined that a platform/step can be accommodated for reaching the equipment, since the intention is not to limit accessibility. If you require a platform/step, please be sure to bring your own as one will not be available otherwise.

A: The rules state that no alcohol is permitted in the signature drink. To verify this, the Head Judge would reference the ingredients from which the drink is made, including the solution. If no ingredient packaging is available the decision would be at the discretion of the Head Judge, who can penalize accordingly.

A: Each morning, Victoria Arduino technicians will check every machine for calibration. Data from each machine will be recorded and checked by WCE Staff. No other data or information will be collected or recorded using any other equipment or sources.

A: A: You must choose from one of the 9 configurations listed in the 2019 WBC Rules & Regulations, and place it within the 7m x 7m square during table set-up time. Any of the asymmetrical table configurations can be inverted or mirrored. If you would like to place your table off-center, you may do so with the assistance of the Head Runner. Please note that competitors are responsible for ensuring that their presentation table is at least .3m (12 inches) from the edge of the square.

A: To facilitate multiple overlapping performances performances in Round One, competitors will be able to use their own music during the Semi-Final and Finals rounds only.

Rule 5.4 Competition Music

Competitors may bring their own music on a CD, MP3 player, USB drive, or smart phone for the Semi-Final and Final rounds of competition. If a smart phone is used, it must have 3.5mm aux output (no adapters), be unlocked (no screen passcode), and be in both Airplane & Do Not Disturb mode. Music may not contain profanity, otherwise the competitor’s score on “Presentation: professionalism” may be penalized on all sensory score sheets. Competitors must mark their music clearly with their name. It is the competitor’s responsibility to give the WBC Stage Manager or Audio Visual staff their music prior to the start of the competition. It is also the competitor’s responsibility to retrieve the music from the WBC Stage Manager or Audio Visual staff after the competition. Media that are not retrieved will be discarded after the competition.

A: Public Transit has a comprehensive service in Boston—it’s called the “T” and is operated the MBTA. The Red Line (subway) runs close to Expo, as well as across town to Cambridge/Somerville. If you plan on using public transport heavily, picking up a Plastic “Charlie Card” from a teller is recommended. These can be reloaded with cash at any machine, once you have one. The next best option is Uber/ Lyft. If you do plan on driving, navigation can be difficult, and parking is also expensive in the city.